8:29 PM,
Feb. 12, 2014

Rutgers University Athletic Dierector Julie Hermann (left). Rutgers University President Robert Barchi (right).

Written by

Keith Sargeant
| Asbury Park Press

Rutgers University on Wednesday agreed to pay $11.5 million to withdraw early from the former Big East and enter the Big Ten next season.

The settlement ends nearly 15 months of acrimonious negotiations and litigation between Rutgers and the league, now called the American Athletic Conference. Rutgers has been a member since 1991.

In a statement, university President Robert Barchi said the negotiated settlement is $3.5 million less than the $15 million exit fee the conference had sought. The university projects that over the next 12 years the increase in revenue from moving to the Big Ten ...